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Hot Rods Thunderbirdesq Builds a Roadster!

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by thunderbirdesq, Oct 22, 2009.

  1. thunderbirdesq
    Joined: Feb 15, 2006
    Posts: 7,091

    thunderbirdesq
    Member

    One car garages suck for engine/trans swaps... especially if it's raining...:rolleyes:

    [​IMG]

    So as I had suspected, the sychros in this trans are shot.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    I REALLY wish I would have checked this thing out a little better before tossing it in there, but I suppose it really wouldn't have mattered anyway. I would have been pulling this engine/trans anyhow.... ...here's why:

    I'm a dumbass. I used a 9.5" pressure plate and flywheel from a early 50's ford with a 9" clutch disc to get the early spline count. I KNEW these pressure plates were incompatible with the early trans, but for some reason I thought it was a 10" plate/flywheel even though it's stamped 9.5 right on it! Dumbass! :mad:

    Anyhow, the longer fingers of the later plate were digging into the throwout bearing carrier and face of the clutch disc. Bingo... there's the source of my noise/drag/grinding etc...

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    So... I'm off to get my flywheel redrilled and pick up a new pressure plate.
     
  2. chopo
    Joined: Feb 20, 2006
    Posts: 1,265

    chopo
    Member

    you dumbass....... :D

    as quick as you work it should only be about another 15 minutes and it will be up and running.
     
  3. thunderbirdesq
    Joined: Feb 15, 2006
    Posts: 7,091

    thunderbirdesq
    Member


    Yeah, I lost a bet with my wife about that today. I bet her I would have it running by noon when I started pulling the engine at 8am. hehe, I thought I had everything I needed to swap the whole clutch assy if needed. I didn't... :D
     
  4. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 7,088

    RodStRace
    Member

    If the bet involves you in house servant attire, we don't need pics! :eek:
     
  5. chopo
    Joined: Feb 20, 2006
    Posts: 1,265

    chopo
    Member

    :eek: x2 eeeeewwwww.
     
  6. Fedcospeed
    Joined: Aug 17, 2008
    Posts: 2,011

    Fedcospeed
    Member

    Andy,Are you done yet??:) Did Charlie help you out?:)Come on ,showdown is two weeks away:eek:

    Let me know how you made out:cool: Jim F
     
  7. thunderbirdesq
    Joined: Feb 15, 2006
    Posts: 7,091

    thunderbirdesq
    Member

    Hahaha, no house servant costume, but she is rather fond of cowboys! :eek::D:D

    Not done yet, Jim. I talked to Charlie tonight, he's gonna redrill my flywheel to fit the early 9" PP/disc. I gotta go out to Mac's and pick up the new PP tomorrow morning, then run down to Charlie's in OP tomorrow after work to drop the whole sha-bang off. Looks like this won't be going back together until Wednesday now...:( that leaves me with about two weeks to make sure she's ship-shape for the showdown trip.:cool:
     
  8. HomemadeHardtop57
    Joined: Nov 15, 2007
    Posts: 4,336

    HomemadeHardtop57
    Member

  9. thunderbirdesq
    Joined: Feb 15, 2006
    Posts: 7,091

    thunderbirdesq
    Member

    Thanks Jerry! The engine and new trans,pressure plate, and redrilled flywheel are back in the car, just have to finish hooking up the linkage/wiring/hoses/etc...
     
  10. JeffreyJames
    Joined: Jun 13, 2007
    Posts: 16,627

    JeffreyJames
    Member
    from SUGAR CITY

    Coupe weeks left Andy!!! Glad to see you diagnosed the problem on the trans. You were getting me worried about '39 boxes after all that discussion.

    I need to make sure my shit's in order before I go and put it behind the 265.
     
  11. love to see this car finished, exactly how my buddy had planned before selling it to you haha. poor guy having to see it now. too bad about the trans, i just realized i did the same thing on my 303/lasalle. nothing like kicking your own ass haha. the car looks amazing though. great work.
     
  12.  
  13. thunderbirdesq
    Joined: Feb 15, 2006
    Posts: 7,091

    thunderbirdesq
    Member

    She's all back together again, and what an IMPROVEMENT! I was gritting my teeth as I slid it into reverse for the 1st time. But it slid right in and shifts smoothly and quickly through all the gears! Drove it to work today with the top down. I love this car, hahaha!:cool:

    [​IMG]
     
  14. general gow
    Joined: Feb 5, 2003
    Posts: 6,462

    general gow
    MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    nice dude. glad you've got it sorted.
     
  15. Bet it is a bit of workout trying to turn it around behind the shop.
     
  16. 60'shotrod
    Joined: Nov 18, 2007
    Posts: 2,919

    60'shotrod
    Member

    OUTSTANDING!It looks perfect, just bloody perfect!

    Nick.
     
  17. JeffreyJames
    Joined: Jun 13, 2007
    Posts: 16,627

    JeffreyJames
    Member
    from SUGAR CITY

    It's just mind blowing how nice this thing turned out. You've got class out the ass Andy!!!!

    Can't wait to see red mud slung all over the side of that fucker!!!!
     
  18. Jeff Norwell
    Joined: Aug 20, 2003
    Posts: 15,139

    Jeff Norwell
    MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    Congrats Andy.... she is mighty fine
     
  19. Mat Thrasher
    Joined: Nov 5, 2007
    Posts: 1,168

    Mat Thrasher
    Member

    Looks great and holy shit do you work fast.
     
  20. Big Nick
    Joined: Sep 7, 2005
    Posts: 844

    Big Nick
    Member

  21. thunderbirdesq
    Joined: Feb 15, 2006
    Posts: 7,091

    thunderbirdesq
    Member

    Thanks guys, I'm really diggin' it too. We'll see how she performs on an 800 mi round trip in about two weeks here. Gotta get the seat finished up, some seat belts, and set of QC gears with a little longer legs to them. Even with the 3.54's it's winding a tad higher than I'd like at 75+...

    Jim, with this little thing? Shit, one single 3 point turn baby! I got it down to a science. Remember, I used to park my van back there!! It's all in how you come in after you pass the building.:D
     
  22. JeffreyJames
    Joined: Jun 13, 2007
    Posts: 16,627

    JeffreyJames
    Member
    from SUGAR CITY

    What do you guess you're running at 75 rpm wise??? I have 3.54's going in my rear with the same trans. I bet my rear tires are a little bigger but I'd still like to know.
     
  23. sinks88
    Joined: Feb 18, 2009
    Posts: 610

    sinks88
    Member

    Looks like I could have used your ride as inspiration
    [​IMG]
     
  24. thunderbirdesq
    Joined: Feb 15, 2006
    Posts: 7,091

    thunderbirdesq
    Member

    Jeff, I'm not sure, my tach is not in the car yet, but it feels like it loves the RPM from about 55-65. You've got a small block too, comfortable with a little higher RPM than this old flatty I'd think.
     
  25. JeffreyJames
    Joined: Jun 13, 2007
    Posts: 16,627

    JeffreyJames
    Member
    from SUGAR CITY

    Yeah my 265 has a small stoke so it'll take even more rev I think then a regular. I was just interested in what you were running at. It's nice to have the quickchange in case like this huh? I would assume that you'd use the longer legs for trips and then switch back to the 3.54's for around town?
     
  26. thunderbirdesq
    Joined: Feb 15, 2006
    Posts: 7,091

    thunderbirdesq
    Member


    Yeah, either that or just reverse the lower gears that I put in there. We'll see how it goes. It has plenty of torque with these 3.54's, I rarely even use 1st gear unless I'm starting out on a incline. It may perform just fine around town even with a higher gear.
     
  27. Bull
    Joined: Mar 17, 2006
    Posts: 2,288

    Bull
    Member

    Perfection. Absolute perfection!
     
  28. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,619

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    Nice project, beginning to end. Makes me hate my T's! Nuthin' cooler than a '30 on Deuce rails...
     
  29. Wow... great total package
     
  30. Dooley
    Joined: May 29, 2002
    Posts: 3,076

    Dooley
    Member
    from Buffalo NY

    The car showed up at our clubs swap meet yesterday, and it is incredible in person.

    People were all over it the whole time it was there. Simple and clean...
    great car.
     

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